Method for treating comestibles



www 151], MU R F PARSQN METHOD FOR TREATING COMESTIBLES Filed May 4, 1939 ATTORNEY.

STATES PATENT @FFME METHOD Fwllt 'llRlEATllNG lDUllmSTlBLES Richard F. Parsons, dit. .lohnr-i, Newfoundland, asssignorof one-half to llarvey a; floinpany, liiinicd, dt. .lohntt Newfoundland, a body corllora e Alliittplication llllay il, lili-i9, denial lilo. Zzllfllil t claimt'. (ci. tiolool This invention relates to comestibles and more scribed, since the principles of the invention are particularly to treating comestibles having a equally applicable to all comestibles having cel- Cellular Stlutllle, and Particularly flesh fOOlS, lular structures, particularly flesh foods, and Such as fish, meat, Poultry, @C- which are to be preserved by freezing.

COmeSlbleS, and particularly fish, have been in accordance with trie principles of this t preserved by freezing and storage under low invention, a nsh fillet is subjected to a treattemperature cond1t1ons., When fish was frozen ment prior to freezing which will inhibit or preby slow freezing processes, ice crystals were provom the breakdown or rupture of the cellular duced. These crystals, the size of which varied Structure of the fuiet during the subsequent lo Q21 the time emploi/ed in the freezing Operation, freezing thereof. after the niiet nos been siinlt rbllrd the dehcate C611 mmbfaneS of @he jected to the preliminary treatment, the fillet s a copseqteme the sh mth [mung is frozen by any ofthe lrnown freezing processes, storage and defrosting lost a considerable porit being immoierioi Whether o 510W or quick tion of its juice and flavor. Furthermore, when freezing process is utilized A i5 the frozen sh was stored at low temperatures The preiimirrery rrearrr'lerlt Consists in sub lt for a protracted period of time, there were produced certain other undesirable effects, such as Je'ctmg the uet to the muon of an electrm curherderli rent. ln other words, an electric current is Arremlsornecgslglgegrg passed through the fillet, and the latter theresirable results secured in the slow freezing procam?? 1S frozen' At. the moment? am unable ess by utilizing quick freezing processes. 'llhough to. glve amy explanamon of the admon. the alec' in the quick freezing processes the size of the tue current or? the uet'. My xpenmems have ice crystals initially produced thereby was conshoWn that W en ai uet 1s Sublected lo an elec' siderobly smaller than those obtained in the me Current. and theeafter frozen 61th?" by a" 2,3 slow freezing processes, nevertheless, after pro- 510W or qulck freezmgpmcss there 1S pm' longed storage at 10W temperatures the quick duced a frozen product 1n which the cell struc frozen product exhibited a decided tendency to um? 1S not broken down or ruptured' .MY ex" lose juice as well as a hardening of the fibers perlments further Show that. the Prehmmary and Considerable dehydration treatment prevents the formation of 1ce crystals i have found that if trie cellulari-structure or l. lairge. SIZ?? When the .met 1S frozen and no the eemeetibie is not broken er. ruptured .the likewise inhlbits the deterioration of the frozen undesirable effects of the previously mentioned pqduct when Stored under 10W temperature con' processes can be overcome. dltlons' lt is therefore an object of this invention to .Though the @let may be Subqected to the elec' provide a frozen comestible in Which'the cellular tmc current' Wlthout any pfevlous treatment I Structure is not broken down have found that best results are secured when A further object of this invention is to provide the uet 1S treate@ 71th a' Solutlon which in o process of freezing eomestibies wherein the creases the conductivity thereof. Specifically l breakdown in cellular structure of the comestihave found that best TSSUES are .Secured when 40 bios is inhibited and prevented. the fish fillet 1s treated with a solution consti- @ther Objects Win become apparent from the tuting an electrolyte prior to the passage of the *W ioiiowiiig oiesorioiioio,` appended Claims and ac.. electric current therethrough. Any electrolyte componi/ing drawing forming a pori of this which does not deleteriously affect the fillet and specification and wherein which is not toxic to the human system may be Figure l is u, vertical Segugio of @no fol-m 0f utilized. lt is therefore obvious that many elecam the apparatus employed in this invention; trolytes can be used. Il`he preferred electrolyte Figure 2' is e, top View of another form of the is a sali-ne solution and specifically an aqueous apparatus; and solution of sodium chloride.

Figure 3 is a, Section taken on the 1in@ of In the preferred embodiment of the invention 5e Figure 2, the saline substance is dissolved in water and For the sake of brevity and convenience, a the resulting solllSOYl applied t0 the llell in any m specific illustrative embodiment of the invention suitable manner, andA preferably by immersing or as applied to fish fillets will be described. lt is dipping the fillet in the saline solution, 'Various to be understood, however, that the invention is concentrations of the saline substance in soluo not restricted to the specific embodiment detion may be used. Optimum results have been obtained when an aqueous sodium chloride solution having a 12% salometer reading is used.

The electric current which is passed through the llet is preferably of the alternating current type. The time of treatment with the electric current depends on the size of the fillet and also the voltage. In the case of fish fillets, I have found that when an alternating current of 220 volts is used, the time of treatment may be from l to 2 minutes.

The process hereinbefore described, and particularly the preliminary treatment, inhibits and prevents the formation of large size ice crystals when'the comestible is subsequently frozen, with the` result that the cellular structure of the product is not ruptured or broken down even when a slow freezing process is used. The process also has the effect of preventing the deterioration of the frozen product when stored under conditions of low temperatures.

In the drawing there is illustrated an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus suitable for the passage of an electric current through the comestible to be frozen.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, the reference numeral l designates a box open at the top and provided at two opposite sides on the interior thereof with electrodes 2 and 2 carrying contacts 3 and 3', respectively. The contacts 3 and 3 are designed to extend exteriorly of the box and engage or be connected to electrical conductors l and 4', respectively, the latter being appropriately connected to a source of power 5.

To permit the contacts 3 and 3 to extend exteriorly of the box, the latter is provided with apertures 6 and t through which the respective contact passes. The apertures ii and 6' are insulated by means of4 sleeves l and l', respectively, formed of any suitable insulating material. It is to be noted that each of the insulating sleeves 7 and 'l' project beyond the box. This is to guard against any possible short circuit which might occur because of the dripping of any electrolyte on the exterior of the box.

The box l, hereinbefore described, is formed of a non-conducting material, such as Bakelite, rubber, etc. In some cases, for example when the box is formed of wood or other material having similar characteristics, it is advantageous to line lthe interior of the box with an insulating material. Thus, in accordance with this invention, when the box l is formed of wood or the like, it is provided with an insulating lining 8 on the interior thereof and the electrodes 2 and 2 are positioned thereon.

In the embodiments just described the electric current will pass from the source of supply 5, through the conductor 4, the contact 3, the electrode 2, through the comestibles in the box, and complete the circuit by passing through the electrode 2', the contact 3', and the conductor 4. Suitable automatically acting switches (not shown) may be inserted in the circuit to control the length of time the current is desired to pass.

In the apparatus immediately hereinbefore described, the boxes are stationary. However, the invention may be utilized in connection with the boxes which are in motion. With this in view, a plurality of insulated boxes I are suitably arranged in series and secured to an endless travelling non-conductive belt Il, which is adapted to pass over and under a table I2 having supporting legs I3. The belt Il traverses the rollers I4 and I positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the table. Either of the rollers, for example, the roller I4, may be appropriately connected to a driving mechanism whereby the belt will be driven. In the form shown, the roller I4 is provided with a pulley l 6 which is driven by any suitable driving mechanism.

Each of the boxes I0 is vof a construction generally similar to the box l previously described. Each box, with or without an interior insulating lining, depending on the material of which said box is made, is provided with electrodes and 20' on two opposite sides in the interior of said box. The electrodes 20 and 20 carry brushes 2l and 2l', respectively, which extend exteriorly of Vthe box through apertures 22 and 22 which are insulated by sleeves 23 and 23' (similar to the sleeves l and 'l' previously described). The brushes 2i and 2E are adapted to slidably and frictionally engage the rails 24 and 24 carried by.

the table l2. The rails 2li and 24. are connected to a suitable source of current 25 and constitute conductors.

The boxes l!) may be positively secured to the belt il in any suitable manner. When such a construction is utilized, the comestibles will be dropped by gravity from the box as the belt makes its return travel beneath the table. Each box will be supplied with the comestibles at the beginning of its movement across the top of the table. It is, of course, to be understood that the boxes need not be positively secured to the belts. If desired, the boxes may be appropriately positioned on the belt so that they will travel with the belt. In this construction the boxes will be manually disposed and removed from the belt at the respective positions therefor.

In the embodiment utilizing a travelling belt, the product to be frozen is placed in the boxes I0. As the belt travels, the boxes move therewith and at the appropriate time the brushes 2i and 2|' of each box progressively and frictionally engage and slidably contact the rails 2d and 2t', respectively. The current then passes through the thus-formed circuit which includes the comestibles in the boxes.

It is to be noted that the rails 2li and 24 are of a length sufficient to permit the current to pass through the comestibles for lthe desired period of time. In the form shown, the rails 2t and 24 are disposed adjacent the longitudinal edges of the table and intermediate the ends thereof.

Since it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the above description without departing from the nature or spirit thereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except asset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A method of freezing comestibles which comprises passing an electric current through the comestibles to inhibit the rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing, and thereafter freezing the thus-treatl comestibles.

2. A method of freezing comestibles which comprises treating the comestibles with an aqueous saline solution, subjecting said comestibles to the action of an electric current to inhibit the rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing; and thereafter freezing the thus-treated comestibles.

3. A method of freezing comestibles which comprises dipping the comestibles in an aqueous sodium chloride solution having a 12% salometer reading, passing alternating electric current of 220 volts through said comestibles to inhibit the rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing, and .thereafter freezing the thus-treated comestibles.

4. A method of freezing fish which comprises passing an electric current through the sh to nhibitthe rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing, and thereafter freezing said fish.

5.A A method of freezing sh which comprises treating the sh with an aqueous saline solution, subjecting said sh to the action of an electric current to inhibit the rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing, and thereafter freezing said sh.

6. A method of freezing sh which comprises dipping the sh in an aqueous sodium chloride solution having a 12% salometer reading, passing alternating electric current of 220 Volts through said fish for approximately 1 to 2 minutes to inhibit the rupture or breakdown of the cellular structure thereof during freezing, and finally freezing said sh.

RICHARD F. PARSONS. 

